Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-04-13
MSS noRormY WHITNEY.
The Cabinet baby Christencd wish
Elaborate Cercmoufes.

A Washington special says; The IN
FAINT daughter Of Secretary and Mrs
Whitney was named Dorothy at hel
baptism in st. Johns church to-day
the Rev. DR.. Leonard reading thu
christening service at 5 o'clock. The
church was filed with guests, including
the diplomatic corps, and the large
company went half an hour later tt
a reception at the house from haif-pasl
8 to Z. Christenings are not unusual
in Washington, but Cabinet babies are,
and the interest in this one not only
filed the church with friends OF the
parents but attracted large crowd oil
The popular element waiting outside.
The CAY was one OF summer heat, and
the wide-open windows, profusion OF
flowers. and spring toilets, gave the eff.
feet OF June rather than April.
The ceremony was exceedingly pretty
in the choral service OF small boys,
who sang as one Of the hymns the era
die lullaby, "Hush, Thee, My Baby.
The flowers were annunciation lilies.
They were given by Mrs. Whitney to
the children's Easter service yesterday
at the same hour, and they had been
kept over for the christening. The tall
branches rose in snowy mass from
the font, and above them was white
dove. On the altar there were clusters
of the lilies in high vases.
The families OF the Cabinet officers
occupied seats in front on the left, and
relatives were seated on the right. The
four Young ladies' in the Cabinet cir
cle-Miss Endicott, Miss Bayard, Miss
Lamar, and Miss Vilas-were the god
mothers. Oliver Payne, Mrs. Whit
news brother, who is in Europe, stood
godfather, Secretary Whitney acting as
proxy.
The church was so full that only those
nearest the chancel could see the babe
in the arms of the nurse. Though the
service was long, it was not until the
water fell on the baby's face that the
baby protest arose, vigorous and en-
phatic enough to proclaim to every
body her actual presence. But the lit
tie cry was but momentary, and Doro-
thy Whitney's good nature and good
behavior through the service established
her reputation as model baby.
The reception at the house was quite
informal and much like q tea. The
young godmothers assisted to receive
and the choir-boys were special guests
of the baby's sister Pauline and bro
theirs, Henry and Payne Whitney. Bas-
kets of superb flowers were the gifts
from many of the diplomats, and some
of the other presents were of silver.
Mrs. Cleveland's gift was a bowl, saucer,
and spoon, having a chased border OF
baby figures. The bowl and spoon
are gold-lined. On the smooth centre
Of the saucer is the name Dorothy.
There were also three other silver bowls
and spoons, tiny bracelets, several rat
ties OF gold and pearl, and various ex-
quisite conceits in the nature of brushes,
combs, and other useful things for Il
baby's outfit. Taken all in all, Doro-
thy Whitney is favored child of for
tune, of whom it may be said that she
was literally born with gold spoon in
her mouth.
Miss Mary McCulloch, daughter of
ex-Secretary McCulloch, was the one
grown up Cabinet baby present, having
been born when her father was Secre-
tary of the Treasury. She was one of
the Young women assisting Mrs. Whit
ney to receive. The gift of George
Bancroft was in two small volumes of
his own writings, with an autograph
card. Mr.. Bancroft was at the church
and went from there to the house, and
seemed to enjoy the occasion as much
as the youngest OF the company.
The guests included the British Min
lister and his daughters, the Swe-
dish, Brazilian, Hawaiian, CHILEAN,
and Mexican Ministers and their wives,
the French Minister, Justice and Mrs.
Blstchford, Senator and Mrs. Dolph,
Mrs. Field, Colonel and Mrs. Lamont,
Mrs. Folsom, Admiral and Mrs. Rogers,
Representative and Mrs. 5. S. Cox,
Mrs. Don Cameron, General and Mrs.
Sheridan, the Chinese and japanese
Ministers, and Mrs. Hodgson Burnett.
Many young society people were also
in the company. William Endicott,
Jr., and DR.. Ruth, of the navy, were
two OF the four ushers in the church.
Altogether there were several hundred
guests at the christening Of the Cabinet
baby.